Griffin Bryant
Junior outfielder Josh Hogue slides into home plate during NC State's game against the Clemson Tigers at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park for the quarterfinals of the ACC Baseball Tournament on Thursday, May 22, 2025. The Tigers defeated the Wolfpack 7-6 to advance to the semifinals.
NC State baseball fought and clawed to reach the Auburn Regional Final, but ultimately fell short as Auburn smashed the Wolfpack 11-1 to end the Pack’s season.
The Wolfpack (35-21) entered the postseason with high aspirations, but a Friday afternoon loss to Stetson pushed the red-and-white to the brink early. Needing four straight wins to advance to the super regionals, the Wolfpack knocked out Central Connecticut and Stetson in the elimination bracket to set up the game with the Tigers (41-18). The hosts proved why they earned the right to play at home, demolishing NC State’s pitching staff and shutting down the Pack’s entire lineup.
NC State hung tough with Auburn for three innings as junior pitcher Dominic Fritton guided NC State on the mound, despite playing on just one day’s rest. However, with his control fading and arm tiring, a fateful move was made — sending Fritton back to the mound in the fourth inning. Unable to find the zone, Fritton walked multiple batters and loaded the bases before head coach Elliott Avent pulled him in favor of sophomore reliever Cooper Consiglio.
With the bases loaded and Auburn’ confidence growing, Consiglio entered the game at a very tough spot. The Tigers rattled off seven runs thanks to four hits, including a three-run dinger. With Plainsman Park roaring to life, NC State watched its postseason dreams shatter within a single inning.
After a 17 run outburst against Stetson just hours before, the Wolfpack’s offense turned ice cold. To defeat the Tigers, the red-and-white needed to continue its momentum at the plate. Instead, the Pack stumbled throughout the evening, scoring just one run all night. Auburn’s seven run explosion in the fourth inning proved to be the knockout punch, with NC State too stunned to fight back.
The Wolfpack racked up nine hits throughout the game, but failed to string them together to create scoring opportunities. Additionally, Auburn stifled NC State’s power hitters, preventing the red-and-white from hitting a single home run — a stark contrast from the Wolfpack’s performance against Stetson. Unable to compete at the plate, NC State didn’t have much of a chance to defeat the Tigers.
With the loss, NC State’s season officially closes in defeat. For the second time in three years, the Wolfpack suffers a regional exit in an SEC ballpark. The Wolfpack brought a strong team into the season, but inconsistent hitting and untimely pitching woes proved to be NC State’s downfall.
While the Wolfpack fell short of an ACC Title or a super regional appearance, the season certainly had highs to celebrate. From sweeping Clemson, a six run comeback against Virginia and the emergence of new stars, including sophomore pitcher Ryan Marohn and freshman center fielder Ty Head, the Pack left its mark on the 2025 baseball season. NC State will return to action next February, looking to build on its success.